Health
‘Women Affected By Vagina Yeast, Unware Of Disease’
A Consultant Family Physician at De-Cross Maternity Hospital, Jericho Ibadan, Dr Mojirayo Ajayisays half of women affected with vaginal yeast infection are unaware of the disease.
Ajayi who disclosed this in an interview with journalists in Ibadan last weekend said there is a specie of yeast known as Candida that can be present in the vagina without causing any symptoms.
“In fact, it is estimated that 20 per cent to 50 per cent of women have candida already present in their vagina,’’ she said.
According to Ajayi, for an infection to occur, the normal balance of yeast and bacteria is disturbed, allowing overgrowth of the yeast.
“While yeast can be spread by sexual contact, vaginal yeast infection is not considered to be sexually transmitted disease because it can also occur in women who are not sexually active.
“This is due to the fact that yeast can be present in the vagina of healthy women as well,’’ said the expert.
Ajayi defined a vaginal yeast infection as an infection caused by yeast (a type of fungus) in the vaginal, adding that it is sometimes referred to as ‘candida vaginitis’. She said that vagina yeast infections are very common in women, affecting up to 75 per cent of women at some point in life.
According to her, signs and symptoms of vaginal yeast included vagina discharged (which is typically thick), odourless and whitish-grey in colour. She listed other symptoms to include an intense itching of the vaginal or genital area, irritation and burning, painful sexual intercourse, pain or burning during urination and redness, or soreness of the vagina. Ajayi also explained that vagina yeast infections could occur when new yeast is introduced into the vaginal area, or when there is an increase in the quantity of yeast already present in the vagina, relative to the quantity of normal bacteria.
“For example, when the normal, protective bacteria are eradicated by antibiotics (taken to treat some ailments), the yeast can multiply, invade tissues, and cause irritation of the lining of the vagina (vaginitis). “Vaginal yeast infections can also occur as a result of injury to the inner vagina, such as after chemotherapy.
“Also, women with suppressed immune systems (for example, those taking cortisone-related medications) develop vaginal yeast infections more frequently than women with normal immunity.
“Other conditions that may predispose women to developing vaginal yeast infections include: diabetes, pregnancy and taking oral contraceptives. According to her the use of douches or perfumed vaginal hygiene sprays may also increase a woman’s risk of developing a vaginal yeast infection.
“However, it is possible for men to develop symptoms of skin irritation of the penis from a yeast infection after sexual intercourse with an infected partner, although this is not always the case,” she said. Ajayi said that taking steps to reduce moisture in the genital area can reduce the chances of developing a yeast infection.
According to him, wearing cotton underwear or wearing loose-fitting pants, and avoiding prolonged wearing of wet workout gear or bathing suits, are all measures that can help control moisture.
While noting that the above steps would help reduce the chance of getting a yeast infection, the expert maintain that medical intervention be sought from the hospital to have the condition properly diagnosed.
Two United States scientists who unraveled the human micro RNA have won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2024.
Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun won the coveted prize for their work on microRNA as their discoveries help explain how complex life emerged on earth and how the human body is made up of a wide variety of different tissues.
MicroRNAs influence how genes – the instructions for life – are controlled inside organisms, including humans.
Every cell in the human body contains the same raw genetic information, locked in our DNA.
However, despite starting with the identical genetic information, the cells of the human body are wildly different in form and function.
The electrical impulses of nerve cells are distinct from the rhythmic beating of heart cells. The metabolic powerhouse that is a liver cell is distinct to a kidney cell, which filters urea out of the blood.
The light-sensing abilities of cells in the retina are different in skillset to white blood cells that produce antibodies to fight infection.
So much variety can arise from the same starting material because of gene expression.
The US scientists were the first to discover microRNAs and how they exerted control on how genes are expressed differently in different tissues.
The medicine and physiology prize winners are selected by the Nobel Assembly of Sweden’s Karolinska Institute.
They said: “Their groundbreaking discovery revealed a completely new principle of gene regulation that turned out to be essential for multicellular organisms, including humans.
“It is now known that the human genome codes for over 1,000 microRNAs.”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has begun acting to curb effects of antibiotic pollution.
The new guidance on wastewater and solid waste management for antibiotic manufacturing sheds light on this important but neglected challenge ahead of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Meeting on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) taking place on 26 September 2024.
The emergence and spread of AMR caused by antibiotic pollution could undermine the effectiveness of antibiotics globally, including the medicines produced at the manufacturing sites responsible for the pollution.
Despite high antibiotic pollution levels being widely documented, the issue is largely unregulated and quality assurance criteria typically do not address environmental emissions. In addition, once distributed, there is a lack of information provided to consumers on how to dispose of antibiotics when they are not used, for example, when they expire or when a course is finished but there is still antibiotic left over.
“Pharmaceutical waste from antibiotic manufacturing can facilitate the emergence of new drug-resistant bacteria, which can spread globally and threaten our health. Controlling pollution from antibiotic production contributes to keeping these life-saving medicines effective for everyone,” said Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General for AMR ad interim.
Globally, there is a lack of accessible information on the environmental damage caused by manufacturing of medicines.
“The guidance provides an independent and impartial scientific basis for regulators, procurers, inspectors, and industry themselves to include robust antibiotic pollution control in their standards,” said Dr Maria Neira, Director, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health, WHO. “Critically, the strong focus on transparency will equip buyers, investors and the general public to make decisions that account for manufacturers’ efforts to control antibiotic pollution.”
In a concerted effort to curb brain drain, the Kebbi State Government has harmonised medical doctors’ salaries to be at par with their colleagues in the federal government’s tertiary health facilities.
Kebbi State Commissioner for Health, Musa Inusa-Isma’il, disclosed this at the handing over of ambulances to the state-owned health facilities at the Ministry of Health in Birnin Kebbi yesterday.
Inusa Isma’il, according to a statement by Ahmed Idris, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, said the essence of the harmonisation was to retain the existing medical doctors and attract more to the services of the state.
According to him, the doctors across the state had already started enjoying the new salaries from August 2024.
He said the release of the vehicles was in fulfilment of Governor Nasir Idris’ promise to uplift health care services in the state.
“His Excellency said I should inform you, the beneficiaries of this gesture, that the vehicle should be strictly used for the intended purpose. It should not be used for anything else.
“If there is no referral case, each of the vehicles must be parked at the hospital by 6 pm. The governor said you should warn your drivers against reckless driving as well as violating the instructions.
“We should also do everything possible to reciprocate the gesture by working according to the terms and conditions attached,” he advised.
The benefiting health facilities included Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital, Birnin Kebbi; State Teaching Hospital, Kalgo; General Hospital, Argungu; General Hospital, Yauri; General Hospital, Zuru; and General Hospital, Bunza.
In his speech, the permanent secretary of the ministry, Dr Shehu Koko, recalled that the ambulances were handed over to the ministry last Friday by the governor for the onward handover to the benefiting hospitals.
He observed that the ambulances would go a long way in improving the referral system in the state, adding that delays in reaching the secondary and tertiary facilities would be eliminated.
The permanent secretary attributed the high rate of maternal mortality in the country to delays in getting to the health facilities for proper medical care.
“We believe with the provision of these ambulances, part of the gaps we have in our referral system will be addressed, whereby patients who require secondary healthcare could be easily transported to secondary and tertiary health centres, where they can get such help,” he said.
In a goodwill message, Commissioner for Information and Culture Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed expressed gratitude to the governor for the support he has given to the ministry to excel.
While advising the beneficiaries to use the vehicles judiciously, the commissioner advised that services and maintenance of the vehicles must be prompt to derive the maximum benefits from the vehicles.
The commissioner also highlighted some achievements recorded by the government in the last year, including beautification of the state capital, completion of a multimillion-naira ultramodern state secretariat, road construction, construction and renovation of classrooms and upgrading of some health facilities, among others.